Alarm-system apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 5,1904.

P. MoGLOIN.

ALARM SYSTEM APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 19034 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 764,199. PATBNTED JULY 5, 1904. F. MGGLOIN.

ALARM SYSTEM APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1903.

N0 MODEL. a SHEBTS-SHEET 2 LENTKAL PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

I. MQ L'om ALARM SYSTEM APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23, 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 5, 1904.

FELIX McGLOIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEVV YORK.

ALARM-SYSTEM APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,199, dated July 5, 1904. Application filed May 23, 1903. Serial No. 158,412. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX MoGLoIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm-System Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

lWIy invention relates to alarm-system apparatus, and particularly to improvements in the construction and operation of apparatus of the character shown in my former application, Serial No. 137,275, filed December 31, 1902.

This apparatus is designed to send in a repeated alarm and is so constructed that the sending in of the alarm from any one boX cannot be interfered with seriously by the sending in of an alarm from any other box, whether it be situated nearer to the central station or beyond.

The system requires the use of but a single main circuit, which is normally energized. Each of the individual instruments has normally an electrical connection from one terminal to a switch at the other terminal of the instrument; but they are not energized, since they are disconnected from one branch of the main circuit at all times except when in operation. The operation of an instrument, however, depends not only upon the electrical condition of the circuit in that instrument, but also upon the mechanical relation of certain of its parts, which can be released in order to permit the instrument to operate.

The instrument may be arranged in a system, as claimed in my former application; but it is my object to improve upon'the construction of that apparatus, so as to render the parts more positive and effectual in their operation, and to simplify the mechanical construction, so that the apparatus may be more easily constructed and will be more reliable.

The construction will be more thoroughly understood from an inspection of the accompanying three sheets of drawings and the following specification.

Figure 1 isa diagrammatic view showing parts of the apparatus of two instruments in the normal condition and connected by a main circuit to a central station of usual type. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the interior of an instrument-box embodying the improvements of my invention and showing the electrical connections and circuits. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the left-hand side of an instrument,

showing the signal mechanism and the electrically-controlled stopping device. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the right-hand side, showing the starting and operating mechanism, together with the switch for throwing the instrument into the main circuit. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the instrument, similar to Fig. 2, but after the operating-handle has been pulled and the instrument cut into the main circuit and just ready to start. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the mechanical controlling mechanism just prior to its tripping, which will take place when theinstrument has completed its operation and runs down.

A represents a central station, having a battery and the usual receiving and signaling mechanism.

B is the main-line wire, and O the return, which may be either grounded or the circuit made of all wire.

D Eare two instrumentcircuits, which are complete in the normal condition so far as the mains to a switch at the other.

WVhen the instruments are in their normal conditionsthat is, deenergizedthe circuit passes from central to the contact 1 and out through the contact 2 to the line-wire through test-box R and return. When an instrument is pulled, so as to permit it to start, the contact 3 is brought into play to separate contacts 1 and 2 and at the same time connect the contacts 1 and 4, so that the circuit then passes from central to contact 1, thence through contact 3 to 4, and through the controlling-magnet 8 and return, thus throwing that instrument into circuit and breaking the main circuit for all points beyond.

To startthe instrument, the mechanical controlling mechanism is manually operated. This mechanism consists of thehandle 9, pivoted so as to swing freely from the pivoted plate 10. To the under side of this plate 10 is pivoted a pawl 11, pressed by the spring 12 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 13.

14 is a holding-pawl to prevent the ratchet 13 from returning or moving backward. This pawl is held into contact with the ratchet 13 by the spring 15. The ratchet 13 is mounted upon the shaft 16, which is secured to the innor end of the main driving-spring 17. The other end of the spring 17 is secured to the frame 18, carried by the gear 19. From the gear 19 the signal-wheel 7 is driven through the intermediate gears 20, 21, and 22, the latter being on the shaft 23, which also carries the signalwheel 7. From the gear 22 the eseapement mechanism and part of the mechanical stopping mechanism are controlled by means of the gears 24, 25, and 26, the latter of which engages the escapement 27.

28 is a fan or plate carried by the escapement 27, which assists in governing the movement, making it more regular, and also in stopping the mechanism when at any time the instrument is dei'mergized. The teeth on gears 21 and 24 are exact multiples of those on gears 22 and 25, respectively.

In the normal position of rest the plate 10 is held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the spring 30, at which time the shoulder 31 rests against the stop 32. \Vhen the instrument is pulled and brought into the position indicated in Fig. 5, the locking-pin 33 engages the shoulder 34 and prevents the spring 30 from returningthe plate toits original position. In this manner the operatinghandle 9 can be pulled down only once, so that the instrument cannot be ratcheted up to cause injury.

29 represents a partition which fences off the operating mechanism from the handle 9. In the particular form of instrument shown herein the ratio of the gearing is such that when the operating-handle 9 is pulled down once the spring 17 is Wound up sufficiently to give five revolutions of the signal-wheel 7, after which the operation is positively stopped by the mechanical interposition of the pin 35 in front of the pin 36. Pin 36 is carried by the pinion 26 in the train and makes five revolutions for every revolution of the signalwheel. The pin is carried by the two armed lever 37, which is pivoted at 38. The locking-pin 33 is carried by the other arm of this same lever 37, which thus constitutes a double pawl, and is released by means of the operation of the cam 39. This cam 39 is carried by the shaft 40, upon which the gears 20 and 21 are mounted, and makes one revolution for each pull down of the handle 9. The cam 39 cooperates to throw out the lockingpin 33 by means of the slide 11, which is pivoted to the lever 37. The spring 12 being connected to a projection from the slide 11 pulls the slide to the left and also tends to raise the left-hand end up into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. When the cam 39 in its revolution comes into contact with the beveled face 43 of the slide 11, (see Fig. 6,) the cam gradually tilts the slide downward until the guide-surface 44 strikes the stationary pin 45. The continued rotation of the cam 39 then forces the slide 4L1 to the right against the tension of the spring 12 until the locking-pin 33 is released from the shoulder 34 of the plate 10, at which time the spring 30 is permitted to return the plate to its original position. As

soon as the tip of the cam 39 passes the tip of the beveled end 43 of the slide the spring 42 instantly tilts the slide 41 upward again about its pivot 33 to its original position. Of course as soon as the plate 10 is released and thrown back to its normal position the contact 3 permits the contact between 1 and 2 and a break between 4 and 1, so that the mainline circuit is completed and the instrument circuit deenergized. It will there fore be noted that when an instrument is pulled it is cut into the main circuit, and the main circuit is broken at that point for all points beyond. Obviously if an instrument is in operation and another instrument nearer the central station is pulled the nearer instrument will cut into the circuit and deenergize the farther instrument. In order that the farther instrument may not be permitted to run down in silence, I have provided the electrical controlling device, which is governed by the magnet 8 in the instrument-circuit.

is an armature member pivoted to the shaft 51, which carries the locking-arm 52.

53 is a projection or stop carried by the arm 52, which is drawn toward the disk 54% by means of the spring Normally in the position of rest the spring holds the stop 53 against the rim of the disk 54. hen the instrument is in operation and the magnet 8 energized, the stop is held to the left su flicientl y to permit the disk 54 to rotate freely. If, however, during the rotation of the disk at any time the magnet 8 is deiinergized-for instance, by the cutting in of another instrument nearer central the spring 55 will be permitted to pull the arm 52 to the right, and the stop 53 will drop into the recess 56 as soon as the recess arrives at a point opposite the stop. At the same time the end of the leverarm 52 Will intercept the fan 28, and thus holds the train. \Vhen an instrument is therefore cut out automatically by the cutting in of an instrument nearer central, of course its signal apparatus is instantly silenced, but the signal-wheel continues to rotate through the remainder of a single revolution or until the recess 56 permits the stop 53 to act. WV hen the nearer or inside instrui'nent runs down, the farther one will begin to operate again.

hen an instrument has completed its signal and the locking-pin 33 is released from the shoulder 3a of the plate 10, the stop-pin 35,

IIO

down.

carried by the lever 37, comes down into the path of movement of the stop-pin 36, carried by the gear 26, and the instrument is thus stopped in the position indicated in Fig. 2. From an inspection of these two figures it will be noted that if an instrument is pulled when the main circuit at that point is deenergized the instrument will operate only through that part of the revolution of the signal-wheel 7 necessary to bring the recess 56 opposite the stop 53, when the spring 55 will throw the stop 53 into the recess and the operation will cease, to be begun automatically only when the electric condition of the main circuit is restored.

The pin 35 of the double pawl insures the positive blocking of the train whenever the switch is released, and the slight movement when the handle is pulled while another nearer instrument is in operation will indicate that the device is in operative condition so far as 'its mechanical parts are concerned.

Fig. 6 shows the relative position of the lever 37 and the stop-pins 35 and 36 just at the instant when the instrument is about to run It will be seen here that when the plate 10 jumps back to its original position the train of gears still has a certain amount of rotation permitted it before being brought to rest by the stop-pin 36 engaging the stoppin 35. This prevents any undue shock upon the operating mechanism.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a signal instrument, the combination of two main-circuit terminals, an instrumentterminal, a spring-retracted switch for disconnecting said main-circuit terminals and connecting one of said terminals and said instrument-terminal, a pawl engaging directly with the moving portion of said switch when in unretracted position, and means for automatically disconnecting said pawl therefrom at the end of a definite mechanical operation of said signal device.

2. In a signal instrument, the combination of two main-circuit terminals, an instrumenttcrminal, a spring-retracted switch for disconnecting said main-circuit terminals and connecting one of said terminals and said instrument-terminal, a pawl engaging directly with the moving portion of said switch when in unretracted position, a slide connected with said pawl, and a cam acting to move said slide to release said pawl at the end of a definite mechanical operation of the signal device.

3. In a signal instrument, the combinationof two main-circuit terminals, an instrumentterminal, aspring-retracted switch for disconnecting said main-circuit terminals and connecting one of said terminals and said instrument-terminal, a pawl engaging directly with the moving portion of said switch, a slide connected with said pawl and having a bearingsurface, a cam engaging with said bearingsurface to move said slide to release said pawl,

and means for retracting the part having said bearing-surface through a different path than that in which it was forced by said cam.

4:. In a signal instrument, the combination of two main-circuit terminals, an instrumentterminal, a spring-retracted switch for disconnecting said main-circuit terminals and connecting one of said terminals and said instrument-terminal, a pawl engaging directly with the moving portion of said switch, a slide connected with said pawl and a cam acting to -move said slide to release said pawl at the end of adefinite mechanical operation of said signal device, said slide having lost motion and a retracting-spring acting to move said,

slide back obliquely when released by said cam.

5. In a signal instrument, the combination of two main-circuit terminals, an instrument terminal, a spring-retracted switch for disconnecting said main-circuit terminals and connecting one of said terminals and said instrument-terminal, a pawl engaging directly with the moving portion of said switch when in unretracted position, means for automatically disconnecting said pawl therefrom at the end of a definite mechanical operation of said signal device, and a pull-handle loosely depending from said switch.

6. In a signal device, a signal-wheel, a-disk and train moving therewith, a magnet, an armature member having a detent adapted to eoact with said disk and to stop said signalwheel after any single rotation, a switch member, means actuated by said train for actuating said switch member, and a pawl member adapted to block said train after a series of rotations of said signal-wheel and at the same time to release said switch.

7. In a signal device, the combination of a signal-wheel, a train for actuating the same, a circuit controlled by said signal-wheel, a detent for blocking said train, and means operated by said train for forcibly moving said detent to block said train after a series of rotations of said signakwheeh 8. In a signal device, the combination of a signal-wheel, a train for actuating the same, a circuit controlled by said signal-wheel, a movable switch member for connecting the same to the main line, and a separate paw-l member for blocking said train when released by said switch and releasing said train when held by said switch.

9. In a signal device, the combination of a signal-wheel, a train for actuating the same, a circuit controlled by said signal-wheel, a switch for connecting the same to the main line, a double-acting pawl releasing said train when engaging said switch and engaging said. switch when releasing said train, and a cam for causing said pawl to release said switch at the end of a definite mechanical movement of said train.

10. In a signal device, a signal-wheel, a

spring-actuated train for operating the same, I was before said switch was actuated and re- IO a ratchet for winding said spring, a springlease said switch. retracted handle for operating said ratchet, a Signed at New York, N. Y., this 22d of switch actuated by said handle for connecting April, 1903. the device to the main line, a pawl for alternatcly stopping said train and holding said FELIX lVlCG'LOIN.

switch, and a cam for actuating said pawl so \Vitncsses: as to simultaneously stop said tram when 1ts .H. B. BROWNELL, spring has reached the condition in which 1t L. VREELAND. 

